2023 Mazda CX-50 vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured a blunt nose, long hood, and a rakish windshield, with a cabin pulled back toward the rear wheels. This design showcased the subtle seductiveness that had characterized Mazda’s cars and SUVs for the past decade. However, the CX-50 also conveyed newfound ruggedness with blistered and boxed fender swells, lower body and wheel arch cladding, and fake front and rear skid plates. Oversized air intake and vent designs added a performance touch without offending the eye.

When paired with the standard black grille, mirror caps, and available 20-inch wheels, these exterior elements came together appealingly. Later in the model year, the CX-50 Meridian Edition joined the lineup with exclusive wheels, all-terrain tires, splash guards, and a roof-mounted load platform. The CX-50 offered two engine options: a 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 256-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Prices ranged from $26,800 to $41,550, excluding the $1,225 destination charge. The top-of-the-line CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, with optional Zircon Sand Metallic paint, had an MSRP of $43,170.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was available in LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum trims, each offering a distinctive look. The Sienna featured sleek front and rear fascias and came in cool colors like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims getting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, considered the sporty option, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors, was designed for off-road readiness with roof rails, a tow hitch, and increased ground clearance.

The Sienna’s interior offered standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight passengers. The XSE trim with the optional Premium package replaced the second-row bench seat with captain’s chairs and added heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats. The interior featured horizontal design lines, a fixed center console with satin accents, and easily accessible cup holders and shifter. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for a family vehicle, with upper trims offering a built-in vacuum cleaner.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options. The 2.5 S model had a 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Mazda estimated this version would achieve 27 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking stronger acceleration and increased towing capacity, the 2.5 Turbo model featured a turbocharged engine producing between 227 hp and 256 hp, depending on the fuel used. Torque ranged from 310 lb-ft to 320 lb-ft. Mazda predicted the 2.5 Turbo would get 25 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 23.4 mpg.

The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth acceleration across a broad power curve, with minimal turbo lag. It offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were subtle. The CX-50 felt firm in terms of ride quality and exhibited a hint of torque steer during tight turns. With 8.6 inches of ground clearance, it was capable of light off-roading. The CX-50 2.5 Turbo could tow up to 3,500 pounds, though it might struggle on steep grades.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a hybrid minivan with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a total of 245 hp. AWD models had an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. While the Sienna’s performance was not thrilling, it offered a smooth ride with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The minivan felt sluggish off the line, especially when merging on the highway or climbing hills. The CVT could be noisy, but the ride was generally pleasant around town.

The Sienna had Normal, Eco, and EV modes, with the latter suitable for slow-speed areas. The brakes could be grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, and visibility was excellent. For those seeking more driving pleasure, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50’s interior featured power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. Ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control were also available. The driver’s seat and front passenger seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy, with rear air vents and charging ports. Rear doors opened to nearly 90 degrees, making entry and exit easier.

Storage space was adequate, with a few missed opportunities for additional bins. The available smartphone charger had its own slot under the center armrest. The power rear liftgate revealed 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. The lower storage pass-through could fit bulkier items, and there were four cupholders up front, along with additional holders in the front doors. A shelf above the glovebox housed the available wireless charging pad. Both side doors were powered, and the second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. Upper trims included an ottoman for added comfort, though the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn’t be removed, limiting maximum cargo space.

The second row had cup holders and net pockets, while the third row offered ample legroom and tilting seats. Tri-zone climate control was standard, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate could be activated with a kick motion, revealing 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space. With the third row stowed, cargo space expanded to 75 cubic feet, and with the second row folded, it reached 101 cubic feet.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with the Mazda Connect infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a 10.25-inch display. Historically, Mazda Connect did not offer touchscreen control, relying on center console buttons, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. However, the 2023 CX-50 allowed touchscreen control for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system provided a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display (head-up display) projected data within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system was older, it included physical buttons for common menus. The backup camera had a grainy view, and the gauges were analog with a 7-inch digital display in the middle. Standard features included a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. The rear-camera mirror streamed a wide-angle video feed to the center rear-view mirror.

USB ports were scattered throughout the cabin, and the Sienna had a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet for the second row and rear cargo area. The outlets had to be activated with a button near the driver’s seat. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to rate high for safety, though the IIHS had not yet performed crash tests. Mazda provided a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, though the adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting in.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The adaptive cruise control worked well, though the lane-keeping assist caused some side-to-side movement. The Sienna had plenty of airbags, including side curtain airbags for all three rows, and reminders to check the rear seats for passengers or cargo.

The NHTSA rated the 2024 Sienna with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five out of five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave the Sienna top scores for crashworthiness and seat belt and child restraint systems, though it rated the minivan as “Average” for front crash prevention.